Frelick to see time in infield during Spring Training
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PHOENIX -- Sal Frelick is adding versatility to his résumé.
Frelick has gotten work at second base and third base this spring and will be used in the infield during Cactus League games, Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.
“He reminds me of [Dustin] Pedroia,” said Murphy, who coached Pedroia at Arizona State.
“Different personality, but he reminds me of that kid. ‘I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s do it.' He’s that kid. He’s got that ‘it’ factor that everyone loves about him.”
Frelick, a first-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has only played outfield as a professional, but did play a smattering of infield in the amateur Futures Collegiate Baseball League during his time at Boston College.
“He embraced this,” Murphy said. “He wanted to do it. I think he can help his career and I think he can help the Brewers. There are not too many guys on a Major League roster who can make that change. He’s a very capable young man.”
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The move, if permanent, would alleviate a logjam in the outfield behind Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Joey Weimer. Frelick played 57 games in the second half after injuries limited Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins, seeing time in center field (196 innings) and right field (246 1/3 innings). All are in camp.
Brice Turang slashed .218/.285/.300 as the primary second baseman a year ago. Newcomer Joey Ortiz, acquired in the Corbin Burnes trade, is the Brewers' No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline and considered a strong candidate at the position as well. Owen Miller and Andruw Monasterio made 29 and 21 starts at second base in 2023, respectively.